DOCSLIB.ORG

Day Trip to Carstairs Kames. Saturday 6Th July 2013

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Day Trip to Carstairs Kames. Saturday 6Th July 2013 Day trip to Carstairs Kames. Saturday 6th July 2013. Leader John Gordon Participants 25 Reporter: Margaret Greene Carstairs Kames – one of the most famous landforms in Scotland The following is from the SNH citation of the site “ Carstairs Kames Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) lies less than 0.5km north of Carstairs and illustrates one of the most striking and important groups of glacial landforms in Britain. Extending over a distance of 7km, the site comprises a series of braided sand and gravel ridges (eskers) and mounds (kames) with intervening peat-filled hollows (kettle holes). These features, which reach an exceptional height of 25 metres above the surrounding topography, are the product of glacial meltwater charged with sediment draining out from the front of the last ice sheet as it retreated approximately 15,000 years ago. Carstairs Kames is a historically important site that has been a focus of scientific study for over 160 years, and it remains a key locality today for interpreting the processes and patterns of landscape development associated with ice sheet melting “. On a warm and sunny morning we set off from the Gregory building, and met up with three others at the Ryeflat Peat Extraction site near Carstairs. From there we travelled a short distance to the south-eastern end of the ridge. Scotland experienced multiple episodes of glaciation especially in the past 1.7 million years – the landforms at Carstairs Kames relate to the last major ice sheet. The main phase of ice initially came from the north pushing south and eastward but following this the ice sheet came from the Southern Uplands pushing northwards – therefore the latest ice to arrive in the area was from the south. There is a long history of investigation of the site which is a series of anastomosing ridges with kettle holes in between the ridges. They are the remnants of a huge suite of deposits stretching from Lanark almost to Edinburgh left by the westward retreat of the last ice sheet. The composition of the ridges is variable, being mostly sand and gravel. They are not strictly kames as this refers to features on the edges of a glacier. Interpretation of the ridges has varied over the years from moraines to eskers (sub ice flows) to a recent more complex interpretation of a mix of glacial and subglacial rivers leading to the mix of coarse and fine sediments. Dead ice would result in forced river channels which would then appear as ridges. Despite the site being classified as a SSSI in the 60’s work still went ahead on quarrying on the south side which is now a featureless flat area. John pointed out that the fact that gorse has been cleared off the kames and animals allowed to graze there, is an example of land management playing its part in geoconservation, without which the outlines of the land forms would be obscured. Clasts of ‘haggis’ rock – a chert and quart micro conglomerate of the lower Ordovician could be seen in a small exposed section on the kames – this being evidence of the direction of ice flow from the Southern Uplands. Lunch was eaten at Lanark Loch and after that it was decided to walk to New Lanark. Leaving Lanark Loch we walked up the road with the cemetery on our right then into a small side road to our left which leads to Bonnington Power Station. In the distance we could see the present workings at Hyndford Quarry. Cemex, who run the quarry have applied to extend it and this is the subject of a strong local protest. In extending the quarry Cemex have agreed to restore the original glacial features to the landscape and to carry out recording of sections for Geoconservation purposes. Andrew Highton, in the party, explained that he is involved in giving advice on restoring the features. One of the focuses of interest will be the investigation of a probable former channel of the river Clyde. Evidence of this channel had previously been uncovered during the building of the nearby power station. The land on our right opened out to a large field with kettle holes, kames and eskers – a very good example of post glacial landforms. Looking along the Esker Ridge A Kettle hole This hummocky surface marks a marginal ice position with outwash to the east where the flat land used for Lanark racecourse is to be found. Some of us descended into an abandoned section of the quarry on the left which had been worked out 10 years ago. The quarries here have a very high proportion of sand (69%) and the sides of the abandoned quarry show many crossbedded and ripple structures as well as differentiate layers of mud from glacial lake beds and more sandy lacustrine sediments – the latter interbedded with lignite – some fine particles and some coarser small pebbles – this is clear indication of the ice picking up Carboniferous sediments as it passed over these. We then made our way towards New Lanark, passing the Bonnington Pavilion which the Victorians built and lined with mirrors in order to reflect the falls at Corra Linn. The highest of the falls here is Bonnington Linn which we did not ascend to but came down to Corra Linn via the pathway managed by Scottish Wildlife Trust. When the Clyde was diverted at the end of the last ice age it found this new route and the volume of water produced by glacial outflow soon scoured out this gorge through layers of Old Red Sandstone. The new channel is steeper and exploited joints in the bedrock – there are a number of right hand bends in the river reflecting joints in the bedrock with layers of harder more resistant sandstone interbedded with weaker layers of shale. Today there are four major falls here in the Clyde. The falls of Clyde John explained that this was one of the first sites of geotourism in the late 18th century when the Falls of Clyde became one of the iconic tourist destinations alongside Loch Lomond and Staffa. It was described in early tour guides and journals and visited by such as Wordsworth and Sir Walter Scott and painted by many famous artists including Turner. It was popular all through Victorian times and when the railways came along day trippers from Glasgow could visit the site. Falls of Clyde Unfortunately the building of Bonnington Power Station in the 1920’s has reduced the volume of water flowing over the falls. The mill at New Lanark was developed due to the water power from the third set of falls and is now a World Heritage Site. The visit was finished here with a welcome ice cream to cool off after hot day. Chris Henderson gave the vote of thanks to John expressing all of our thanks for such a .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 1 Introduction
    10 Archaeology & Cultural Heritage Contents 10.1 Executive Summary 10-1 10.2 Introduction 10-1 10.3 Legislation, Policy and Guidelines 10-2 10.4 Consultation 10-3 10.5 Assessment Methodology and Significance Criteria 10-6 10.6 Baseline Conditions 10-12 10.7 Potential Effects 10-15 10.8 Mitigation 10-19 10.9 Residual Effects 10-20 10.10 Cumulative Assessment 10-20 10.11 Summary 10-1 10.12 References 10-4 CUMBERHEAD WEST WIND FARM i ARCHAEOLOGY & CULTURAL HERITAGE This page is intentionally blank. CUMBERHEAD WEST WIND FARM ii ARCHAEOLOGY & CULTURAL HERITAGE 10 Archaeology & Cultural Heritage 10.1 Executive Summary 10.1.1 This chapter considers the environmental effects of the Proposed Development on archaeology and cultural heritage (historic environment sites and features, archaeology and built heritage), describing the results of a desk-based assessment undertaken by CFA Archaeology Ltd (CFA). The assessment also takes into account comments provided in Scoping Opinions by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and South Lanarkshire Council (SLC). 10.1.2 The baseline assessment has established that there are 14 cultural heritage assets that lie within the site. These assets have all been avoided by the design of the wind farm layout, and mitigation has been proposed that would address any potential direct effects upon previously unrecorded cultural heritage sites. Taking account of the current land-use and surrounding historic landscape character, the potential for further archaeological discoveries within the site is assessed as being low. 10.1.3 The assessment has considered the effect of the Proposed Development on the settings of designated heritage assets in the wider landscape following the approach approved by HES.
    [Show full text]
  • Falls of Clyde by Making a Donation Today
    Please help Falls of Clyde by making a donation today. Text “Fall13 £2” to 70070 to donate now. All texts are free Fall for Join us today! and 100% of your donation goes to helping protect and preserve this amazing wildlife reserve. You can help to support our vital Falls of Clyde Visitor Centre nature in work protecting Scotland’s wildlife. New Lanark South Lanarkshire ML11 9DB T 01555 665 262 E [email protected] • Free entry to all our visitor centres and reserves @TheFallsOfClyde New Lanark • Subscription to Scottish Wildlife magazine • Free copy of our Exploring Reserves guide Airdrie (M8) A73 • Invitation to exclusive talks and events A706 Edinburgh (A70) Visit scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk for A743 A72 LANARK more information or call 0131 312 7765. Hamilton (M74) A73 Abington & M74 N New Lanark You might also like to visit … World Heritage Site Visitor centre Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre Each spring, ospreys arrive here from west Africa. The observation hide offers stunning Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2011 views of the ospreys rearing their chicks. By car Special provision Interactive displays in the centre tell the One mile (1.6 km) south of Lanark, off The visitor centre is wheelchair friendly. story of Lowes and its wildlife – otters, red the A73. Follow brown signs for New An induction loop is fitted. Education squirrels and much more. Lanark World Heritage Site. The Falls of activities are available for school groups. Clyde Visitor Centre is located within A Dunkeld PH8 0HH T 01350 727 337 the village of New Lanark.
    [Show full text]
  • Report to Scottish Ministers.Pdf
    Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals Report to the Scottish Ministers THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1997 (AS AMENDED) Report by Dan Jackman and J Alasdair Edwards, reporters appointed by the Scottish Ministers Case reference: NOD-SLS-001 Site Address: Hyndford Quarry, Lanark, South Lanarkshire, ML11 9TA Application for planning permission dated 23 November 2012 called-in by notice dated 29 January 2014. The development proposed: extension to mineral extraction and associated restoration and enhancement works Date of pre-examination meeting: 8 May 2014 Date of hearings: 19-21 August 2014 Dates of unaccompanied site visits: 30 July 2014 and 27 August 2014 Date of accompanied site visit: 13 August 2014 Date of further written submissions: 9 December 2014 Date of this report and recommendation: 20 February 2015 4 The Courtyard, Callendar Business Park, Falkirk, FK1 1XR DX 557005 Falkirk www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Planning/Appeals CONTENTS Page Summary Report 2 Preamble 6 Chapters 1. Background Site location and description 7 The proposed development 8 Planning application process 9 The development plan 9 Other policy and guidance 17 Legislative context 22 2. Cemex UK Operations Limited (the applicant) 24 3. South Lanarkshire Council 52 4. New Lanark and Falls of Clyde Working Group 68 5. Historic Scotland 87 6. Other main parties 94 7. Consultation responses 96 8. Representations 100 9. Reporters’ reasoning and conclusions 107 10. Recommendation to Scottish Ministers 135 11. Appendices Appendix 1: Recommended
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix 10.3 Heritage Assets Within the Outer Study Area (Figure 10.3)
    Appendix 10.3 Heritage Assets within the Outer Study Area (Figure 10.3) DOUGLAS WEST WIND FARM i APPENDIX 10.3 EXTENSION This page is intentionally blank DOUGLAS WEST WIND FARM ii APPENDIX 10.3 EXTENSION Appendix 10.3 Heritage Assets within the Outer Study Area1 (Figure 10.3) Distance to Designation Sensitivity of Turbine Tip Turbine Hub Nearest Magnitude of Significance of Designation Name Designation Type Setting Nearest Visualisation Ref Ref Asset Visibility (ZTV) Visibility (ZTV) Turbine No Impact Effect Turbine (km) Localised riverside setting within Falls of Clyde n/a New Lanark World Heritage Site Very High 10-13 10-13 11.0 T12 Negligible Minor GDL Outskirts of Lanark; localised setting within SM1144 St Kentigern's Church, Lanark Scheduled Monument High 10-13 10-13 12.9 T12 Negligible Minor cemetery Hyndford House, crannog 135m Woodland setting; adjacent to Hyndford Sand & SM2595 Scheduled Monument High 10-13 10-13 13.0 T12 Negligible Minor NNW of Gravel Quarry; localised setting Rural setting; prominent hill top setting; wide SM2882 Black Hill, fort & cairn Scheduled Monument High 10-13 10-13 10.8 T12 Negligible Minor ranging views Open moorland setting; Duneaton Water valley; Craighead, platform settlement SM4485 Scheduled Monument High part of local group with SM4513, SM4517 & 10-13 10-13 11.9 T13 Negligible Minor 1200m WNW of SM2606; localised setting Prominent hill top setting; wide ranging views; SM4275 Cairn Kinny Scheduled Monument High 10-13 10-13 9.9 T1 Negligible Minor LVIA VP 11 intervisibility with Cairn Table (SM6431)
    [Show full text]
  • Bonnington: an Archaeological and Historical Appraisal
    __________________________________________________________________________________ SAVE OUR LANDSCAPES Report No. 1 BONNINGTON: AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL APPRAISAL By Ed Archer December 2011 Bonnington: an Archaeological and Historical Appraisal Introduction This paper has been prepared to provide members of the public and policy–makers with an overview of the history of the Bonnington area, which is part of the Buffer Zone of the New Lanark UNESCO World Heritage Site, and which was included in Historic Scotland’s Inventory of Designated Landscapes in 2007. The area is currently threatened by Cemex’s plans to extend Hyndford Quarry into this area, thus destroying much of the landscape. The paper takes us from the Prehistoric period, through Roman times to the Middle Ages when the area formed part of the Royal Forest of Lanark, a favourite hunting ground for the Kings of Scotland from the time of William the Lion. In the Middle Ages the first houses are recorded, but the real high spot of the estate’s history did not come till the Eighteenth Century. It was at this period that a designed landscape was developed by Sir James Carmichael with the House of Mirrors above Corra Linn being its most well known legacy. The Bonnington estate became associated with ’picturesque’ tourism, attracting poets and writers such as Wordsworth and Scott and artists such as Turner. Lady Mary Ross is associated with developing the work started by Sir James Carmichael at the beginning of the eighteenth century. Lady Mary blended the natural and designed landscapes with the development of paths, rides, view points and plantings. The distinctive landscape survived the demolition of the last Bonnington House along with some of the trees and beech lined pathways.
    [Show full text]
  • Intention to Grant Planning Permission Letter and Report
    Local Government and Communities Directorate Planning and Architecture Division: Planning Decisions T: E: Senior Associate Burness Paull LLP 50 Lothian Road EDINBURGH EH3 9WJ Our ref: NOD-SLS-001-1 18 February 2019 Dear NOTICE OF INTENTION TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING (SCOTLAND) ACT 1997 EXTENSION TO MINERAL EXTRACTION AND ASSOCIATED RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT WORKS AT HYNDFORD QUARRY, LANARK, SOUTH LANARKSHIRE, ML11 9TA 1. This letter contains Scottish Ministers’ notice of intention on the above planning application by Cemex UK Operations Limited. 2. On 29 January 2014, Scottish Ministers issued a Direction, under section 46 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, requiring the application made by Cemex UK Operations Limited dated 23 November 2012, to be referred to them for determination. This was because of the proposed development’s potential impact on the New Lanark World Heritage Site (WHS), which is internationally recognised for its outstanding universal value (OUV), and on the wider setting. The proposed development comprises both a western and southern extension. 3. Following the decision by the Court of Session dated 9 May 2017 to quash the Scottish Ministers’ previous Decision, to grant planning permission only for the southern extension, dated 7 December 2016, a targeted re-opening of the case has been conducted by the Scottish Government Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA). The application was considered by public examination with two site inspections, further written submissions and a hearing session and was conducted by Ms Allison Coard, a reporter appointed by Scottish Ministers for that purpose. A report was submitted to Scottish Ministers on 20 June 2018 and is attached in Annex A.
    [Show full text]
  • Visit Clyde Valley Woodlands Trails
    Featured Trail Cartland Bridge Walk A Other reserve paths Walk B Cleghorn Glen Cartland Craigs 1 hour/1.5km 1.5 hours/2.5km Ideally, the best way to savour the hidden gems Cartland Craigs is one of the most dramatic of the of Cleghorn Glen is to walk the entire gorge from Clyde Valley’s wooded gorges. The best starting point Cleghorn Bridge to Mouse Bridge (4km). However, is the small car park on the north-west side of the parking can be difficult at these locations so here we spectacular Cartland Bridge (take care when entering suggest a shorter walk to offer a taste of this wonderful and leaving the car park as it is close to a tight bend). oak and ash woodland. Starting at the Cleghorn Glen Walk steeply uphill for 250m with the Mouse Water sign near to the end of Bellefield Road, follow a lane tumbling away to your right in the depths of the gorge. between fields to enter the National Nature Reserve at Be sure to take a look over your shoulder to glimpse Leitchford Bridge. one of the most dramatic views in Lanarkshire which reveals the true scale of this often hidden landscape. The path can be followed either up or downstream You are now standing high above the grandeur of at this point. However, for this short excursion to Thomas Telford’s Cartland Bridge, which itself towers the ‘Mouse Falls’, we recommend that you turn left above the burn far below. The three-span bridge was (downstream) to follow the water’s edge along a built in 1822 and is one of the highest bridges in narrow path with unexpected views of the increasingly Scotland.
    [Show full text]
  • Visit Clyde Valley Woodlands NNR Pdf, 2.06MB
    Peregrine falcon Falls of Clyde Mauldslie Woods If you want to feel the power of the rivers that cut The valley is more open here, with shallower slopes New Lanark the Clyde Valley gorges, this is the place to come. World Heritage Site than the other sites in the Reserve. That made the trees Here the Clyde flows through deep, slow pools SWT Wildlife Reserve easier to harvest, and in the 1800s the wood was before rushing over the famous waterfalls – cleared and replanted. Part of the site was once an Falls of Clyde Clyde Walkway a visitor attraction for hundreds of years. Visitor Centre orchard, one of many producing the apples, pears Woodland Trail and plums for which the Clyde Valley was famous. Great Peregrine falcons nest on cliffs above the river, safe spotted woodpecker from predators but easily seen from the opposite Dundaff Linn Corehouse Trail Now Mauldslie is managed to restore the role native Way to go bank. During the nesting season a camera gives close Bonnington Trail woodland once played in the local economy, as well up views of the birds and their chicks, with pictures as the trees themselves. New trees will be planted, From the car park near Mauldslie Bridge, the path beamed to the Scottish Wildlife Trust website and while work through the Clyde and Avon Valley Mill Weir meanders through attractive open parkland before their Visitor Centre in New Lanark. Landscape Partnership aims to build new markets for reaching the woods. There is a network of well R i v e timber, and to develop woodland management skills.
    [Show full text]
  • Fall for Nature in New Lanark
    Please help Falls of Clyde by making a donation today. Text “Fall13 £2” to 70070 to donate now. All texts are free Fall for Join us today! and 100% of your donation goes to helping protect and preserve this amazing wildlife reserve. You can help to support our vital Falls of Clyde Visitor Centre nature in work protecting Scotland’s wildlife. New Lanark South Lanarkshire ML11 9DB T 01555 665 262 E [email protected] • Free entry to all our visitor centres and reserves @TheFallsOfClyde New Lanark • Subscription to Scottish Wildlife magazine • Free copy of our Exploring Reserves guide Airdrie (M8) A73 • Invitation to exclusive talks and events A706 Edinburgh (A70) Visit scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk for A743 A72 LANARK more information or call 0131 312 7765. Hamilton (M74) A73 Abington & M74 N New Lanark World Heritage Site You might also like to visit … Visitor centre Loch of the Lowes Visitor Centre Each spring, ospreys arrive here from west Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2011 Africa. The observation hide offers stunning views of the ospreys rearing their chicks. By car Special provision One mile (1.6 km) south of Lanark, off The visitor centre is wheelchair friendly. Interactive displays in the centre tell the the A73. Follow brown signs for New An induction loop is fitted. Education story of Lowes and its wildlife – otters, red Lanark World Heritage Site. The Falls of activities are available for school groups. squirrels and much more. Clyde Visitor Centre is located within A Dunkeld PH8 0HH T 01350 727 337 the village of New Lanark.
    [Show full text]